FTC Spoofs freecreditreport.com

March 10th, 2009 at 05:38 pm

As reported on MSNBC...The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday released two videos that spoof the popular FreeCreditReport.com commercials and their trademark catchy tunes.

FreeCreditReport.com is owned by credit bureau Experian, which has been engaged in a decades-long battle with the Federal Trade Commission over alleged misbehavior. Most recently, in 2005, the FTC settled charges with the firm that it intentionally misled customers with its FreeCreditReport.com Web site. The FTC said in its lawsuit that the company was confusing consumers who were looking for their congressionally mandated free annual peek at their credit reports. Experian agreed to refund customers, but admitted no wrongdoing.

As a matter of fact, I have gotten a report from freecreditreport.com and had no trouble. I understood it is a for profit company offering only a single report from a single credit reporting agency unless you pay. I understood I needed to cancel the service within 30 days of signing up, or else I'd be billed. It was all there in writing. I did not find it deceptive at all. I got the report, then immediately phoned to cancel. What's the big deal? Is the site expected to be tailored to those who will not read?

I also know about annualcreditreport.com. A good job is done to publicize that.

I would like to see the public service ad, though.

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